Agenda – Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead full council meeting, 27th September 2022.
Agenda item 13 b) By Councillor Cannon
Since the Environment Agency took responsibility for managing the Thames and alleviating its flood waters, it has ceased the river dredging that had been in place for the previous 50 years.
It is believed that this has caused a decrease in capacity due to unmanaged silting, impacting on river navigation and the river’s capacity to contain flood waters.
This Council:
i) Requests that the Environment Agency resumes dredging of the River Thames within the boundaries of RBWM (especially the undefended reach between Black Potts and Bells Weir) to both ease navigation and increase the rivers capacity to hold water and therefore alleviate flood risk to our riverside communities.
ii) Requests that the Environment Agency expedites its efforts (in working with RBWM) to bring forward its alternative plans for flood alleviation for the Black Potts to Bells Weir reach of the River Thames following the EA removal of Channel One from the River Thames Scheme in July 2019. [2019 should read 2020]
Councillor Cannon’s Motion for the Environment Agency to dredge the River Thames – watch it here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4eaNy2IXrZw